The African National Congress (ANC) has condemned recent threats made by scholar transport operators, following the impounding of unroadworthy vehicles, saying this demonstrates “arrogance and unpreparedness” in terms of compliance with the law.

ANC national spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu said the law must respond equally to the “nonchalant and indifferent attitude” of the scholar transport and taxi industry.

More than 60 scholar transport vehicles have been impounded during an operation led by Transport Minister Barbara Creecy in Lenasia, south of Johannesburg.

This after 14 school children died in a collision between a minibus and a truck.

The drivers of scholar transports threatened to stop collecting and dropping off learners, this after the Transport Department embarked on an unannounced blitz and impounded some unroadworthy minibus taxis.

“We are most disadvantaged in this business, and they do not do anything to help us. We said to them when we bought these cars, they were new, so these cars are now old. The next thing we are being targeted,” they said.

The Scholar Transport Association bosses believe they were ambushed and bullied.

The association said it wanted a peaceful protest, where it would meet with government so it could get answers as to when the drivers would get the permits they applied for.  

Bhengu said the deaths and the state of scholar transport were of grave concern, and she called for stricter regulation of the industry through enforcement and a revamp of scholar transport policy.

“Our observation of the industry, including the entire taxi industry has revealed serious shortcomings, unroadworthy vehicles, overloading, noncompliance with the law, reckless and negligent driving and disrespect towards commuters and other road users,” she said.

She said any noncompliant vehicle must be impounded, encouraging parents to choose “the best and safer services” in the best interest of their children.

Meanwhile, Select Committee on Education, Sciences and the Creative Industries chairperson Makhi Feni called on law enforcement agencies to hold the minibus driver involved in the accident accountable and include a possible ban from driving on South Africa’s roads.

“It seems nothing will make taxi drivers change their behaviour and make them respect traffic laws. Police should be given full powers to handle criminality on our roads as it relates to driver behaviour. The road network is a shared service which demands that drivers respect other road users,” he said.

MULTISECTOR ACTION

The Public Servants Association (PSA) said government’s response after every incident or accident was to call for reform without any action.

The PSA suggested an urgent National Scholar Transport Imbizo, that involves the Department of Basic Education, provincial Departments of Education, national and provincial Departments of Transport, Treasury, budget oversight structures, law enforcement agencies, road safety authorities, unions, scholar transport associations, private operators, school governing bodies, parent organisations, civil society and child rights advocacy groups, road safety researchers, engineers, and policy experts.

The organisation wants the Imbizo to result in the design and commitment to an enforceable national action plan, closing of regulatory gaps, establishment of safety standards, stricter vehicle enforcement, strengthened licensing and vetting for all scholar transport drivers, implementation of technology-enabled monitoring systems, securing interdepartmental accountability and ensuring sustainable funding models.

The PSA said multisector action was the “only way to break the cycle of reactive government messaging and deliver the systemic reform needed to safeguard learners”.